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‘Reach Out And Take A Shot’: Mott Pondering Whitney Stretch-Out For Cody’s Wish

With two Grade 1 wins from as many starts this year, Cody's Wish may make his next start around two turns, trainer Bill Mott told the Daily Racing Form on Tuesday. The 5-year-old son of Curlin could appear on the entry list for the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Aug. 5 at Saratoga, contested over 1 1/8 miles, a distance Cody's Wish has yet to attempt.

“If you're going to reach out and take a shot, you might as well do it where it counts,” Mott told DRF. “I don't want to waste a race with him anywhere, but the bottom line is with any of them you don't know they're going to get the distance or not get the distance until you actually try it.”

Cody's Wish has only lost once in his past 10 starts, when trying 1 1/16 miles during the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March of 2022. Since that neck loss, Cody's Wish has put together six straight victories, including four consecutive Grade 1 wins: the Forego, Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Churchill Downs Stakes, and the Met Mile.

“He's won several races at the mile distance,” Mott told the NYRA press office on Sunday. “He's won at the one-turn mile and at a two-turn mile. He's never won beyond a mile. Those are some of the challenges that we face now with where we go and what race we're going to run in. That will be under discussion over the next month.”

‘We’re Looking Forward To It’: Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter Wellington Headed To Royal Ascot

Richard Gibson has declared “it's all systems go” for Wellington to embark on a Royal Ascot tilt next week after Hong Kong's reigning Champion Sprinter cruised through a 1000m (five furlong) turf trial (breeze) at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning (June 13).

Preparing for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on 24 June, Wellington finished half a length behind Beauty Charge in third place while clocking 57.94s under Alexis Badel, who kept the four-time Group 1 winner under restraint throughout the hit-out.

The performance delighted Gibson, who hopes Wellington can become Hong Kong's first Royal Ascot winner since Danny Shum-trained Little Bridge won the G1 King's Stand Stakes (1006m) in 2012. David Oughton-trained Cape Of Good Hope was Hong Kong's first victor at the Royal meeting with success in the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at York in 2005.

“There's no greater judge than Alexis to base his (Wellington's) form and condition on and we're really satisfied with the trial,” Gibson said.

Explaining the understated nature of the trial, Gibson said: “It's hot and we've got to travel in a few days. He did everything perfectly today. He's on the plane on Saturday and we're looking forward to it. It was a good boost to see him work so well this morning.”

Gibson will return to Royal Ascot hoping Wellington can go one better than his former stable star Gold-Fun, who ran second in 2016 when beaten a neck by Twilight Son in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m).

Acclaimed as Hong Kong's Champion Sprinter for the past two seasons, Wellington added another Group 1 title to his imposing portfolio of achievements with victory last December in the 2022 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) under Ryan Moore, who reunites with the All Too Hard gelding at Royal Ascot next week.

Since winning the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, Wellington has posted four successive placings – including three at G1 level – behind the world's top-rated sprinter Lucky Sweynesse to underscore his consistency and quality.

Gibson's focus turns to Happy Valley on Wednesday night (14 June) when One For All chases a fourth consecutive win at Happy Valley in the second section of the Class 4 Wong Nai Chung Gap Handicap (1200m) under Luke Ferraris from barrier eight.

“There's no doubt about it, he's got his chance again on Wednesday. We would have preferred an apprentice on board, but Luke's won with him and he likes that slightly wider draw, so I'm sure he'll be there in the reckoning,” Gibson said.

“He's always shown a lot of class, he just had a slow start. He'll be winning more races next season.”

To carry 135lb tomorrow night, One For All has struck a rich vein of form at the city circuit, stringing together a trio of 1200m wins to rise from 42 in the handicap to 60.

Wednesday's (14 June) nine-race fixture kicks with the Class 5 Mount Nicholson Handicap (1650m) at 6.45pm.

The post ‘We’re Looking Forward To It’: Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter Wellington Headed To Royal Ascot appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Forte Tops Final Triple Crown Poll, Belmont Stakes Win Moves Arcangelo to No. 2

Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll. The Three-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. Rankings are based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. First place votes are in parentheses. AMERICA’S TOP 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS FOR JUNE 12, 2023

Respect Tradition or Reflect Change: Should the Triple Crown Schedule Be Extended?

Rich Strike, last year’s longshot Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner, did not advance to the Preakness Stakes. His connections’ desire to do everything possible to keep him in peak form outweighed their eagerness to pursue a Triple Crown.